Hair conditioning applicator



E. o. LUBIN EI'AL HAIR CONDITIONING APPLICATOR June 16, 1953 g mum 5 V1 5 m k a, MM v 4 .5 m v :fimfiww w. V Us) M w m LA 2 0 Filed March 10, l949 6 0 l 3 I 2.1.5 /I a.

Patented June 16, 1953 OFFICE.

. 2,642,070 HAIR CONDITIONING APPLICATOR Earl 0. Lubin and Jack S. Stein,

Chicago, Ill.

Application March 10, 1949, Serial No. 80,742

14 Claims.

This invention relates to hair conditioning ap plicators. a

It is an object of the invention to provide a hair conditioning applicator which, in addition to being capable of applying hair treatment liquid or other medium to the hair, also can be used to massage and stimulate the scalp, comb the hair and assist in spreading the medium over the hair and scalp.

A further object is to provide a hair applicator which is of a size to be conveniently held and operated upon the users head entirely by one hand of the user.

An additional object is to provide an applicator which combines a hair treatment liquidcontainer support with a comb and user-operated flow con trol. It is also an object of the invention'to provide a hair treatment applicator having a comb and adapted to discharge liquid in the vicinity of the comb, and to spread the liquid so that it will drop onto the hair in the vicinity of the teeth of the comb.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

The invention will be better understood upon reference to the following description and the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is an actual size view, partly in'elevation and partly in section, showing one form ofour invention arranged in position for use.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken as indicated by the line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken as indicated by the line 3--3 in Fig. 2. a

. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken as indicated by the line 4-4 in Fig. 2.

' Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of a modified construetion.

Fig. Bis a sectional view taken as indicated by the line 6-6 in Fig. 5, but with the upper end of the nipple in full lines as it appears before being flanged.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but of another modification. v 4

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of a further modification.

Fig. 9 is a'view taken as indicated by the line 9 in Fig. 8.

Referring now more particularly to the draw ing, showing illustrative embodiments orthe'in vention, there is disclsed at H] a'unit which may be made of one piece of plastic, for example, or: other suitable material, comprising aknob-like body including a disc l2 from which extends a peripheral flange i4 so that the disc and flange together form in effect a shallow cup It, a row of teeth l8 forming with the cup rim 20 a circular comb 22, and any internally threaded hub 24 adapted to receive the externally threaded neck 26 of a container 28 of hair treating liquid 30 or other suitable treating medium. The disc [2 has a preferably central threaded opening 32 which is engaged by the externally threaded stem 34 of a nipple structure 36 having an outwardly extending lower flange 38 which may engage the disc directly or between which and the bottom surface 40 of the disc a washer or gasket 42 may be disposed under pressure. An annular shoulder 46 at the lower end of the hub 24 may receive an annular gasket 48 to prevent escape of the contents of the container 28 from the free end of the hub 24 when the container is tightly screwed in the hub.

The nipple structure 36 may includea channel strip 50 spot welded as at 52 or otherwise suitably secured to the nipple flange 38 to form therewith the head member of said structure, said strip having a hole 54 in its web 56 in register with the bore 58 in the remainder of said structure, said hole and bore constituting a discharge passage generally indicated at'6fl. The strip 50 has longitudinal flanges 62 which are return bent to provide lips 64 extending towards each other, and thus the head member is substantially C-shaped or channel shaped in cross-section. A valve plate or other member 66, having a port 61, has wiping engagement with the channel web 56, the longitudinal margins 68 of said plate being received, supported and guided by the channel flanges 62 and lips 64. After'the assembly consisting of the nipple, gasket42, channel 50 and plate is connected with the disc 12, rods Ill, having inner end slots 12, are passed inward through diametrically opposite holes 14 in the cup wall until the ends 16 of theplate substantially abut the-bottoms of the slots, and then the lower arms 18'of the inner ends of the rods are soldered as at 'or otherwise suitably connected to the ends of the plate. The rods 10 may terminate outside of said flange in buttons 82 and 84, respectively. When the button 82 engages the flange I4, the valve plate port 51 is in register with the discharge passage 60; when the button 84 engages said flange, the valve plate port is completely out of register with said passage.

A sheet metal'or other suitable plate 86 is preferably provided to cause the liquid 30 discharged from the valve member 66 to be spread radially is formed with an imperforate central portion or hub 88 on which the liquid 36 impinges and from which it spreads outward, and with perforations 90 radially outward of said central portion, the perforations extending if desired substantially to the outer periphery of the plate. Said outer periphery is formed with suitable means, such as a generally cylindrical lip 92 adapted to be placed in frictional or other releasable engagement with an inner surface portion 94 of the cup I6 adjacent the upper ends of the comb teeth I8, and preferably said surface portion terminates upwardly at a downwardly facing shoulder 96 which limits the extent to which the screen plate can be forced upward into the cup. A knob 88 riveted or otherwise suitably secured to and projecting down from the central portion 88 of the screen difiuser S6 enables the user to install and remove the screen difiuser.

The cup i6 is of such a size as to be easily encompassed within the hand of the user, as shown in Fig. 1, so that the same may be held and firmly grasped by such hand and moved over the head so as to comb the hair and massage and stimulate the scalp. The buttons 32 and 84 are within easy reach of the thumb and a finger of the same hand so that such hand can control the discharge of the liquid without interfering with the movement of the device by such hand over the head. It will be observed, further, that the outside diameter of the hub 24 is sufiiciently small to enable it to be readily accommodated between two of the fingers of such hand-so that such fingers, acting laterally upon the hub, assist in the holding of the unit including the container 28 in the stable manner.

One of the rods 'IIl may have indicia (not shown) showing the extent to which such rod f should be moved inward, and hence the extent to which the valve plate 66 should uncover the discharge passage 60, depending on the nature of the treatment or the viscosity of the hair treating medium the effective size of the discharge being'preferably smaller for liquids of low viscosity, such as soap, rinsing liquid and tonic, and for hair dye, and larger for cream.

The nipple unit or structure may be made of one piece of material, as shown at I04 (Figs. 5 and 6), and, if desired, the disc passage I66 and nipple stem I 63 could be smooth and the stem made sufliciently long to enable its upper end to be peened as at I69 over the shoulder II and support the gasket 43. If desired the flange III could be flat and the valve plate H2 in the form of a channel whose lips H4 receive the side margins of the flange, the flange and channel together constituting a C-shaped member of the nipple structure.

The nipple-channel unit or structure may be in another one-piece form as shown at I I6 (Fig. 7'), the nipple stem I I8 being threaded external- 1y to fit the threaded opening 32 in the disc I2. said stem being internally threaded at I26 to receive the externally threaded end portion I28 of an adapter 13!} having a preferably externally smooth intermediate sleeve portion I32 adapted to be straddled by two fingers of the hand, and also having a cupped upper end portion I34 internally threaded at I36 to receive the threaded neck 26 of a container 26, the base of said upper portion providing an annular shoulder I38 on which a gasket E49 may be provided.

Instead of making the valve plate guide rigid 4; with the remainder of the nipple, we may make it rotatable relative thereto so as to enable it to be turned to the desired valve-memberguiding position without altering the pressure on the washer 42. To this end, the nipple I44 may be formed with a flange I46, and a guide plate I48 may be slipped about the nipple stem I50 and rotatably engaged with the flange. The washer 42 is then slipped about the stem I50, and the assembly secured to the cup. The valve plate I 52 in this arrangement may be a channel whose web 454 slidably engages the flange I46 and has a port I56 for cooperating with the discharge passage I58 in the nipple 144, all as shown in Figs. 8 and9.

The various gaskets are effective only when the device is in use. And when the device is in use, leakage into the cup should not be seriously objectionable. Accordingly the gaskets within the cup could be dispensed with and the nipple flange tightened against the inner face of the disc I2, or against washers used in place of the gaskets.

Various modifications coming within the spirit of our invention may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, and hence we do not wish to be limited to the specific forms shown, except to the extent indicated in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A hair conditioning applicator comprising a cup whose base has a hole therethrough, a nipple secured in said hole and having an outwardly projecting flange in said cup, said nipple having a passage for liquid to the interior of said cup, said flange affording a valve seat, means cooperating with said valve seat for controlling flow from said passage into said cup, said means comprising a valve member for blocking and unblocking said passage, said valve member being in Wiping engagement with said seat and having side margins reciprocally supported and guided by said flange, an actuating end member connected to said valve member and disposed in the side wall of said cup and adapted to project outward beyond said wall a distance sufiicient to unblock said passage, and a screen detachably connected to said cup in spaced relation'to said valve memher, said screen having an imperforate central surface upon which liquid passing said valve member is adapted to impinge. for spreading the liquid over the surrounding perforate portion of said screen, said cup being capable of being firmly held in and controlled by the users hand.

2. A hair conditioning applicator comprising a disc, an outer peripheral substantially cylindrical flange extending from said disc, said disc having a passage, a valve seat adjacent an end of said passage, a control for discharge from said end of said passage, said control comprising amemher having a valve portion in sliding engagement with said seat for blocking and unblocking said passage, means on said seat for guiding said valve portion, said member having end portions slidably extending through said flange, said end'portions having selectively operable terminal push buttons outside of but in proximity to said flange. one of said buttons engaging said flange when said passage is fully unblocked and the other button engaging said flange when said passage is fully blocked, and a circular screen within and detachably engaged with said flange and spaced from said valve portion, said screen having an imperforate hub on which liquid from'said passageis adapted to impinge, said body being of a size to be grasped by the users hand in such a mans ner as to be held'and moved along the users head so that the users fingers can operatesaid buttons without necessitating undue relaxation of the users grip on said body, said disc and flange,

except for said passage and holes, being substantially imperforate.

3. A hand-heldand'operated hair conditioning applicator comprising a cup having a comb at its rim and having a passage through its base arranged to admit liquid to the vicinity of the comb,

means providing a valve seat at the discharge end of said'pass'age, a valve member for blocking and unbloc'king said passage, means for holding said valve member in engagement with said seat and guiding said valve member,means engageable by and under the control of the hand holding said scoped with said head member, and means procup for actuatingsaid valve member, and means a t forspreading-the discharged liquid.

41A hair conditioning applicator adapted to be held and operated by the hand and comprising a body of a size to be conveniently grasped in one hand and-having a hole therethrough'and an outer peripheral row of comb teeth, a structure mounted on said body and comprising a head member and a stem projecting transversely braced by the users hand, a structure mounted on said body and comprising a head, member and a stem projecting transversely fromsaid head member, said structure having apassage through said member and stem, said stem be ing in the form of a sleevelining said hole, the outer'surface of said head member about and adjacent said'pa'ssage constituting a valve-seat, a manually movable valve member slidably en gaging said surface, said valvemember being-substantially c-shaped in cross-section and telejecting from said valve :member and, slidably extending through-and beyond said flange for engagement and actuation by the users -hand.-

, 8. A hair conditioning applicator adapted, ,to be' held and operated by' thehand of the per; sonon'whose head his to be'used, said ap-1 plicator comprising afknob-likewbody' of. a size I to be clasped inthe 'hand'f'and having imperforate substantially peripheral-hair comb- Y ing teeth and a hub formed to anchor the neck' of "a container of hair cond-itioning liquid, said from said head member, said structure having a passage through said head member and stem,

, said stem being in theform of a sleevelining said hole, the outer surface of said head menu- 4 ber about and adjacent said'passage c'onstitut ing a valve seat, and a manually. movable valve member slidably engaging said seat,one of said members being substantially C-shaped in cross-l sectionand telescoped withthe other member.

. 5; A'hair conditioning applicator adapted to by the hand and compris to be conveniently grasped be held and operated' ing'a body of a size inone hand and having a hole therethrough and a row'ofjcomb teeth, a'structure compri'singa head member and a stem projecting transversely from-said head memberfs'aid structure having ;a passage said stem being in the form of a sleeve lining said hole, the outer surface of said head member about and adjacent said passage constituting a valve seat, a manually movable valve member slidably engaging said'seat, one of said members being substantially C-shaped in cross-section and telescoped with the other member, and

body having a hole therethrough at said hub for; the passage vofiliquiolfrom the container to the space circumscribedyby said teeth, said hub extending from said body in the'directionopposite to that in which said teeth, extend, ,said I hub being exposed andof a size to be accommodated between two'fin'gers ofthe hand holding. saidlbody, and valve-meansesupported by. said body? adjacent said hole, for controlling discharge-oi the liquid into 'said-space, said valve means comprising a slidable control member pro jecting from said-body and ,under' the :digital control of the 'userfs hand.

9. A hair conditioning applicator ada tedto.

be held and operated by the hand of the person a on whosehead it is to be used, said applicator through said stem'and head member and comprising a knob-like 'body of a size to be clasped-in the hand and having imperfo'rate substantially peripheral hair combing teethand a means. foroanchoring the neck of a container .of hair conditioning liquid, said body having a hole-therethrough for the passage of liquid from the container to the space circumscribed by said teeth, and valve means supported by said body adjacent said hole for controlling discharge of means preventing separation of said valve member from said head member.

6. A hand-held and -operated hair conditioning applicator, comprising a threaded collar adapted to detachably engage the threaded neck of a liquid container, a structure connected with head member and said collar and comprising a a a stem projecting transversely from said head member, said structure having a passage through said head member and stem and disposed toreceive liquid passing through said collar, said stem being in the form of a sleeve, the outer surface of said head member about and adjacent said passage constituting a valve seat, and

a manually movable valve member slidablyengaging said surface, one of said members having opposite marginal grooves in which opposite margins of the other member are telescopically received.

7. A hand-held an -operated hairbonditioning applicator, comprising a hand-protecting shield having a base with a hole therethrough and a substantially cylindrical flange extending from the outer peripheryof said base, said flange being of a size to be conveniently emthe liquid into said space, said valve means comprising a slidable control memberprojecting from said body and under the digital'control of the users hand. a

10. A hair conditioning applicator adapted to be held and operated by the hand of the person on whose head it is to be used, saidapplicator comprising a knob-like body of a size to be clasped in the hand and having a passage there-' through and imperforate substantially peripheral hair combing teeth and an internally threaded hub adjacent said passage for detachably anchoring the externally threadedneck of a container of hair conditioning liquid, said hub'projecting in a direction opposite to thatin which saidteeth extend, said hub being exposed and-of a size to be accommodated between two fingers of the hand holding said body, means projecting from said body and under the digitalcontrol of the hand for controlling discharge ofthe liquid through said'passage and into the space circumscribed by said teeth, and a screen-supported by said body and disposed between said huband the ends of said teeth for spreading the discharged contents.

11. A hand-held and operated hair conditioning applicator comprising a cup having a comb at its rim and having a passage through its base arranged to admit liquid to the, vicinity of the comb, means providing a valve seat at the discharge end of said passage, a valve member for blocking and unblocking said passage, means for holding said valve vmember in engagement with said seat and guiding said valve member, and means engageable :by and-under the control ofthe hand holding said cupfor actuating said valve .member.

12. A hand-held and operatedhair condition,- ing applicator comprising a .cup having a comb at its rim and having a passage through its base arranged to'admit liquid to the vicinity of the comb, means providing a valve seat at the -discharge, end of said passage, a valve member for blocking and unblocking said. passage, means for holding saidvalve member in engagement with said seat and guiding said valve member, means engageable by and under the control of thehand holding said cup for actuating said valve member, and means for spreading the discharged liquid, said passage being threaded, an adaptor sleeve threaded in said passage and having means for anchoring the discharge portion of a liquid hair treatment container,saidadaptor having an exteriorly smooth portion between said anchoring means and said body; said portion being receivable between two'fingers of'thehand to promote stability when a container is anchored to' said anchoring means, said anchoring means defining a shoulder adjacent the backs'oi thefingers to prevent the applicator from accidentally slipping from the hand.

13. A hand-held and operated hair condition- '3 ing applicator comprising a body in the form of a cup having a comb at its rim'and having a passage through its base arrangedto admit liquid to the vicinity of the comb, a nipple secured in said passage and having a flange at one end and providing a valve seat at the discharge end of said passage, a valve element for blocking and unblocking said passage, means for holding said a leelement in engagementwith said seat and guiding said valve element,-said means comprising. amember swiveled between, said base and said flange, said valve element being 'slidably supported by said member and in wiping-engagement with said seat, means engageable by and'under thecontrol of the hand holding said cup for actuating said valve element, said actuatingmeans being connected to said valve element and slidably engaged in said body, and means for'spreading the discharged liquid. 7 I 14. A hand-held and operated hairconditioning applicator comprising a body in the form ofa cup having a comb at its rim and having a passa e through its base arranged to admit hair conditioning liquid to the vicinity of said comb, a

nipple secured in said passage and having a flange References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,062,053 Strong May 20, 1913 1,057,930 LeWinski July 22, 1913 1,322,639 Snider et a1. Nov. 25, 1919 1,365,883 Bauer Jan. 18, 1921 2,052,098 Lockett Aug.'25, 1936 2,381,048 Habostad Aug. 7, 1945 

